Study on Development Projects, Displaced Tribals & Their Living Conditions

Abstract

Displacement remains a reality in the current development scenario and more such events can be expected in coming days with the rising aspiration for higher economic growth. The socio-economic development of tribals and the rate of displacement in different mega projects shows that the tribals have been facing a disproportionate share of displacement and remain the major sufferer of development induced displacement. To understand the socio-economic status of the displaced and non-displaced families in a comparative mode, SCSTRTI, Govt. of Odisha initiated the present study to understand different socio-economic factors of change of the displaced families in line with the Impoverishment Risk and Reconstruction (IRR) model. The overall objective of the study was to understand current living condition of displaced tribals and contribution made by the project for which they were displaced. The study also looked at comparative development of displaced tribals and non-displaced tribals in their respective place of living. The study covered two hydro-power and two industrial projects in three districts of the state. The projects covered under the study are Harabhangi (Gajapati district) irrigation project, the Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL in Koraput), Upper Kolab hydro-power project (Koraput district) and Rourkela Steel Plan (Sundargarh district). A total of 250 households (50%) from hydro-power and 250 sample households from industrial units were covered for the study purpose The study discusses at length about various indicators like tribal livelihoods, employment, joblessness and marginalization, housing and homelessness, food security/insecurity and health status, including morbidity, social disarticulation and also socio-cultural assimilation of tribal oustees with other villagers. The study finds that it is not only displaced but condition of non-displaced families is also more or less same. Acquisition of productive land can be attributed as one of the reasons but it is not the prime reason. Had displacement been the sole factor of impoverishment, similar situation would not have prevailed in the non-displaced tribal villages. In industrial projects, resettled oustees were in a better living condition in comparison to hydro-power or irrigation projects. One of the reasons has been development of market mechanisms around the industrial units and availability of different employment opportunities which are relatively remunerative than the agricultural labour. Based on the aspirations of the people, the study recommended measures to be taken to improve the condition of the displaced tribal families. The displaced families may be provided with ROR for the homestead landwhere they have been staying. Schematic convergence need to be taken up where household and community level requirements are mapped and appropriate benefits provisioned under different schemes are provided to the oustees. Focused CSR intervention for the oustees, in terms of skill development, enterprise promotion support, production system improvement and related forward linkage can help them to move out of job demand and create scope for self-employment. Regional development scenario play an important role in the overall development of the displaced tribals rather than only displacement and related rehabilitation hence focus should be made on the better economic growth in the region.